Beverage dispensing apparatus



April 30, 1968 J. KONTRA ETAL BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 4, 1964 (Foss/ H BOA/ren- GEEHLD F. GenreINVENTORS.

April 30, 1968 KQNTRA ETAL 3,380,629

BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 4, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 TbSEPH150N729 052.440 E Gears I NVENTORS.

April 30, 1968 J. KONTRA ET AL BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Nov.4, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 N m3 k m3 4 M mm m 3 1 mm\ mm im w sw m ZIbSEPHKo/vmn 05221.0 E 619075 INVENTOR5.

United States Patent 3,380,629 BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS JosephKontra, Northridge, and Gerald F. Crate, Woodland Hills, Califi,assignors, by mesne assignments, to Gerald F. Crate, Woodland Hills,Calif.

Filed Nov. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 408,818 12 Claims. (Cl. 222-26) The presentinvention relates to the dispensing of liquids, and more particularly toan improved apparatus for positive and remote control of suchdispensing.

Certain liquids require special handling, especially when dispensedthrough a tap or faucet. A carbonated beverage, for example, isparticularly sensitive and volatile because carbon dioxide is placed insolution under pressure. Any agitation creates turbulence and causes itto etfervesce and become float, resulting in a loss of taste. Agitationis caused by several factors, primarily by obstacles disposed in thepath of flow of the beverage from a source through a faucet and to acontainer, the foremost obstacle is the valve which, of necessity,cannot be dispensed with. Consequently, various valve mechanisms havebeen devised to minimize fluid turbulence as the beverage passes throughthe valve.

A conventional valve is operated manually by a handle. A disadvantage tothis system, with respect to turbulence, is that, if the valve is notopened rapidly, this causes an uneven flow rate. This varying rate offlow increases turbulence and, consequently, promotes elfervescence.Other systems have been designed to overcome the rate of flow problem;however, they have not been entirely successful since they may be ofcomplicated design or of high cost, for example.

The position of the valve with respect to the faucet also affects thebeverage. In many conventional applications the valve is displaced adistance from the faucet and a conduit of appreciable length is requiredto be disposed between the valve and the faucet. In between openings ofthe valve, this conduit becomes a reservoir or trap in which thebeverage, which has already partially effervesced due to the agitationas it passed through the valve, becomes flatter and less tasty. Over ashort period of time, a beverage such as soda or beer also partiallydeteriorates to effect a deleterious change in taste. This beverage inthe conduit, upon a subsequent opening of the valve, either is pouredinto a glass with fresh beverage or must be thrown out to avoidcontamination therewith.

The relative position of the valve and the faucet presents also acleaning problem. It is necessary to clean the dispensing apparatusperiodically to remove stale and decomposed beverage for sanitary aswell as taste purposes. The design of conventional apparatus does notlend itself to easy cleaning.

Conventional apparatus, including the manual-handleoperated valve andthe valve displaced from the faucet, lends itself to substantial waste.In the latter case, it is most often necessary to dispose of thebeverage trapped in the conduit or reservoir before pouring freshbeverage. When a handle-operated valve is employed, a container may beoverfilled with a foaming beverage such as beer so that too large a headis created. Such excess foam must be scraped from the top of the filledcontained. In addition, the operator of the faucet, e.g., a soda jerk ora bartender may utilize the conventional apparatus to give out freesamples, generally for tasting purposes or engage in outright pilferagesince no means are provided for recording the amount of beveragedispensed.

Prior apparatus also is disadvantageous since it allows an operator tofill but one container at a time. While holding the container under thefaucet with one hand, he must operate the handle with the other. At peakdispensing hours, the procedure can consume an inordinate amount of timeand, possibly, create disgruntled customers.

These disadvantages are overcome by our invention and correspondingadvantages will become apparent from the following description thereof.A faucet, having a through bore, is provided with a spout communicatingtherewith. One end of the bore communicates with a source of beverage toprovide a conduit from the source through the one bore end and thespout. A valve seat having a gasket is formed at this end. A valvemember is disposed Within the bore and is terminated by an enlarged headwhich is in sealing engagement with the valve seat. An extension issecured to the other end of the valve member and projects outside theother end of the bore. A pair of diametrically opposed slots are formedon the extension. A solenoid assembly for operation of the valve memberis secured to the faucet. The assem bly includes an electromagnet havingan axis. An armature or core is disposed coaxially adjacent theelectromagnet. When the electromagnet is energized, an electromagneticforce is exerted upon the core for rapid movement thereof toward theelectromagnet. A spring is also disposed along the axis in contact withthe core to provide a bias on the core in a direction opposite to, andless than, that of the electromagnetic force. A yoke at one end issecured to the armature. A two-pronged fork is formed on the other yokeend to engage the extension within the slots. In operation, when theelectromagnet is energized, the core suddenly moves toward theelectromagnet under influence of the force, against the bias of thespring, in order to unseal the valve head from the valve seat in apositive and speedly manner. When the electromagnet is de-energized, thespring bias quickly urges the core away from the electromagnet and thesealing engagement between the valve head and the seat is re-establishedto terminate fiow of beverage from the source through the spout.

The electromagnet is energized and de-energized by an electronicapparatus including a timer, which regulates the length of timeelectrical energy is supplied to the electromagnet, and a counter, whichis calibrated in terms of the amount of beer flowing from the sourcethrough the spout. A foot pedal operated switch is connected in serieswith a relay winding of a relay switch, a pair of normally closed camoperated switches, and a volt power source. The relay switch includes apair of contacts one of which is disposed in parallel with the footpedal switch. When the foot pedal switch is momentarily closed, thewinding is energized to close the relay contacts one of which issubstituted for the pedal switch upon the opening thereof to maintainthe relay winding energized. The remainder of the electronic circuitthen functions automatically until one of the cam operated switchesopens to de-energize the relay winding and, consequently, to open therelay switch. The circuit further includes two conventional camoperating timer motors each controlling each of the cam switches, andtwo conventional counters secured in parallel with the timer motors. Aselector switch is secured to both timer motor-counter parallel circuitsfor selective operation thereof. Primary windings of a pair oftransformers are connected in parallel with the selector switch circuit.The circuit also includes the secondary windings of the transformers, arectifier, the solenoid electromagnets of both faucet assemblies, and asecond selector switch for selective operation of either of theelectromagnets. For illustrative purposes, it will be assumed that onetimer motor ope-rates for a period of time sufficient to fill a glasswith a beverage while the other timer motors period of time correspondsto the filling of a pitcher. With both selector switches set foroperation of a particular timer motorcounter circuit and for operationof a corresponding electrornagnet and with the relay winding havingalready been energized, current will flow through the various circuitsto operate the selected electromagnet which, in turn, allows a beverageto flow through the selected faucet to fill the glass. At this time, theparticular counter operates to register the fact that the glass is beingfilled. The glass timer motor continues to operate until its cam rotatesto open its cam operated switch. At this point, the glass is filled andthe relay winding is denergized to open the relay switch and to cut offthe power.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide improvedbeverage dispensing apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatushaving a positive and quick response.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a dispensingapparatus of simple construction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for eificientcontrol of beverage dispensing.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an automaticbeverage dispenser.

Another object of the invention is to provide for a supply ofpre-determined quantities of beverage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a record of the quantityof beverage dispensed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a low-cost, highbeverage yield dispensing apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a remotely controlledbeverage dispenser.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for the supplyof varying quantities of beverage.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent fromthe following specification and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the beverage dispensingapparatus positioned on a conven tional bar;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the beveragedispensing faucet illustrating the valve in closed position;

FIG. 3 is a section of the faucet taken along lines 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, in section, of the faucet showing thevalve in an open position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the valve member; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electronic timing and countingcircuit for control of the valve.

Although it is to be understood that our invention relates to anybeverage dispensing device, the following description is directed to thedispensing of beer as an illustrative example.

With reference to FIG. 1 an apparatus 10, a dispenser of draft beer,includes two faucet assemblies 12 and 14 of identical design, each beingconstructed in accordance with the invention. Assemblies 12 and 14 aremounted on a pair of standards 16 and 18, respectively, which aresecured to the surface of a bar 20. An advertising knob 22, whichcarries the brand name of a beer, is threadedly afiixed to each faucetassembly by means of attachments 24 (see also FIG. 2). Conduits 26 and28 are secured between the faucet assemblies and a beverage supply 30,which, for the sake of convenience, is illustrated as standing below thebar. Standard 18 has been partially cut away to disclose conduit 28 andother elements disposed therein. Conventional refrigeration and pressureapparatus has been omitted from the drawings since they do not form apart of the invention. As illustrated, faucet asembly 12 is used to fillglasses of beer while faucet assembly 14 is used to fill pitchers;however, if desired, each faucet assembly may be utilized for fillingboth glasses and pitchers.

The faucet assemblies are connected to an electrical selector box 32 bymeans of electrical leads 34 and 36 and the selector box is connected byleads 38 and 40 to an electronic timing and counting circuit box 42. Afoot 4 pedal operated switch or actuating switch 44 is electricallyconnected by lead 46 to circuit box 42. A wire 48 connects the variouselectrical equipment to a conventional outlet 50 through plug 51.Selector box 32, circuit box 42, pedal switch 44, and all associatedleads may be referred to as an electronic operator or controller.

The selector box is provided with a selector switch operator 54 fordirecting the use of either faucet assembly and a pair of neon indicatorlamps 56 and 58 for indicating which faucet assembly is to be operated.The circuit box is provided with a OFF-ON power switch 60, a glasscounter indicator 62 for faucet assembly 12, a pitcher" counterindicator 64 for faucet assembly 14, a fuse 66 to protect the circuitand a power indicator lamp 68.

In operation, switch 60 is flicked to its ON position. Switch 54 is thenset so that a selected faucet assembly may be operated as indicated byillumination of lamp 56 or 58. Upon closure of switch 44, the selectedfaucet assembly operates to allow a predetermined amount of beer to flowinto a glass or a pitcher and the corresponding counter indicatorrecords this event.

FIG. 4 depicts a cross-sectional view of faucet assembly 12, althoughthe same following description would apply to assembly 14. The assemblycomprises a faucet 70 and a solenoid 72. The faucet comprises a body 74in the form of a bib-cock having a downwardly projecting spout 76 and agenerally hollow cylindrical enlargement 78 provided with an entry 79.The body is formed with an axial bore 80 which extends therethrough andwhich has an inner end 82. The entry is of a greater diameter than thebore and is joined thereto by a bridging orifice 84. An annular gasket86 is mounted in orifice 84 to form therewith a valve seat. Spout 76 isprovided with a passage 88 which communicates with the bore at opening90 to operate as the outlet for the bore. Conduit 26 communicates withthe entry by a threaded connection 91 between the conduit and theenlargement. Consequently, a flow path is established by conduit 26,entry 79, orifice 84, bore 80, and passage 88.

A pair of breather tubes 92 and 94 are formed in the body to provide agas relief among the bore, the passage and the exterior of the body.

Reciprocally mounted within the bore is a valve member 96 (see also FIG.5) having a generally cylindrical end 98 disposed at an open end 99 ofthe bore, a bulbshaped enlarged head 100, and a relatively slendercylindrical neck or stem 102 which interconnects end 98 with head 100. Aslot 104 is diametrically cut through the cylindrical end of the valvemember. An extension 106 is affixed to cylindrical end 98 by bolt 108and projects beyond open end 99. A pair of diametrically opposed keyslots 110 are cut into the extension member. The extension is fixed inposition with respect to cylindrical end 98 by bolt 108 to maintain a 90disposition between the key slots and slot 104. As shown in a comparisonbetween FIGS. 2 and 4, when valve member is reciprocated in the bore,breather tubes 92 and 94 are alternately joined in communication by slot104.

Solenoid 72 is mounted on body 70. The solenoid includes a casing 112which is fixed on body 74 and which is provided with an aperture 114 forelectrical lead 34. A cover plate 116 is secured to the casing by screws(not shown). Disposed within the casing is an electromagnet 118comprising a winding 120 enclosed within a container 122. The containeris separated from the casing by an insulation material 124 which isselected for its heat and electrical insulating characteristics.Consequently, any heat generated by the winding will not be communicatedto the body, thus preventing any raise of temperature of the beverageflowing therethrough. Moreover, the probability of an electrical shortcircuit is prevented.

The winding is disposed in annular configuration about a tube 126 whichis provided with an axial cylindrical opening 128. Container 122includes end walls 130- and 132 which fix tube 126 in place. An aperture134 is formed in end wall 132. An armature or core 136 is reciprocallydisposed within cylindrical opening 128 for movement toward and awayfrom the winding. A spring 138 is disposed between end wall 130 and thecore to provide a bias thereon in a direction away from the winding. Aprojection 140 is secured to the armature and extends through aperture134 in order to communicate any reciprocation of the armature outside ofthe container. As shown in FIG. 4, the diameter of the aperture is lessthan that of the armature to prevent any movement thereof outside of thecontainer under the biased urging of the spring.

A yoke 142 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) is attached at its upper end toprojection 140 by screw 144. At its lower end the yoke is provided witha two-pronged fork 146 comprising tines 148. The tines are disposed tofit about the extension within key slots 110. Because of the parallelrelationship of armature 136 and valve member 96 and the connectionthrebetween by yoke 142, the valve member cannot rotate, assuring therelative position of slot 104 with breather tubes 92 and 94.

:In operation, when the solenoid winding is energized,

armature 136 is drawn toward end wall 130 by the electromagnetic forcethus aroused against the bias of spring 138. Because of the yokeconnection to the end 98, valve head 100 is unseated from sealingengagement with gasket 86 of the valve seat. Beverage from source 30thereby flows under pressure through conduit 26, the open valve, andpassage 88. Upon de-energization of the winding, core 136 moves awayfrom the winding under the bias of the spring to re-etfect a sealingengagement between the valve head and the orifice gasket to cut off thebeverage flow. The winding of solenoid 72 of faucet assembly 12 and thecorresponding solenoid of assembly 14 are operated and controlled by theelectronic controller circuit shown in FIG. 6. The circuit may be saidto comprise three smaller circuits 160, 162, and 164. Circuit 160 is anenergizing circuit. Circuit 162 is a timing and counting or correlationcircuit for controlling circuits 160 and 164. Circuit 164 is a valvesolenoid operating circuit.

Circuit 160 comprises, in series with and connected by leads 48 to a 110volt power source, power switch 60, fuse 66, a normally closed camswitch 166, a normally closed cam switch 168, a relay winding 170 andfoot pedal or actuating switch 44. Indicator light 68, which comprises aneon lamp, and associated resistor 172 are secured in parallel with theswitches and winding. A relay switch 178 is disposed parallely withpedal switch 44. When switch 60 is closed, power is available at footswitch 44 as indicated by the immediate illumination of lamp 68. Switch44 includes contacts 174 and, upon momentary closure thereof, currentflows from the power source through normally closed cam switches 166 and168, through relay winding 170, and foot pedal switch 44 to energize therelay winding. Adjacent to winding 170 is a relay armature 176 securedto relay switches 178 and 180. When winding 170 is energized, the relayarmature is drawn therein, thereby closing the relay switches. Sincerelay switch 178 is disposed in parallel with foot switch 44, switch 178remains closed and current continues to fiow through circuit 160, thecurrent passing now through switch 178 rather than contacts 174.Energization of circuit 160 permits power to be supplied to circuit 162.

The timing and counting circuit includes a pair of timer motor-countercircuits 182 and 184. Circuit 182 comprises a counter mechanism 186which includes a counter solenoid winding 188 and a timing motormechanism 190 which includes a motor 192 provided with a motor winding194. Counter solenoid Winding 188 and motor winding 194 are connected inparallel. Timer motorcounter circuit 184 is constructed similarly tocircuit 182 and comprises a counter solenoid winding 196, includedwithin counter mechanism 198, connected in parallel with a winding 200of a motor 202, included in timing motor mechanism 204. A cam 206 isrotatably secured to motor 192 while a cam 208 is rotatably secured tomotor 202, each ca m being operatively secured to switches 166 and 168,respectively. Cam 206 is provided with a lesser pe ripheral length thanthat of cam 208, which lengths are related to the speed of theirrespective motors and correspond to the amount of beverage passingthrough their respective faucets.

Circuits 182 and 184 are secured in parallel to a selector switch 210.Switch 210 includes a pole 212 connected to circuit 184, a pole 214connected to circuit 182, and a'comrnon pole 216 connected to circuit atrelay switch 178. A movable connector 217 is secured to pole 216 forselective contact with poles 212 and 214. Consequently, only one of thecircuits 182 and 184 may be energized at any one time. Switch 210 isalso provided with'a pair of poles 218 and 220 selectively contactableto common pole 222 to which a movable connector 223, similar toconenctor 217, is secured. A series conection of indicator light 56, aresistor 224, and pole 218 is secured in parallel with a similar seriesconection of indicator lamp 58, a resistor 226, and pole 220, bothseries connections being connected at one side by lead 228 and at theother side by'leads 230, 232, 234, and 236 to the source of voltage. Twotransformers 238 and 240 are provided with respective primary windings242 and 244 which are connected in parallel with relay switch at oneside and leads 232, 234, and 236 at the other side. Thus assuming thatpoles 214 and 216 and poles 218 and 222 are closed in switch 210, whencircuit 160 is energized, circuit 182 begins to operate as indicated byillumination of light 56 and primary windings 242 and 244 are energized.

Upon operation of circuit 182, counter 186 immediately records thisevent on indicator 62 and motor 192 rotates earn 206. Because of thecoaction between the periphery of cam 206 and switch 166, circuits 160and 162 remain energized until cam 206 no longer contacts switch 166. Atthat point, switch 166 opens to open circuit 160 which de-energizesrelay winding 170. Both relay switches 178 and 180 then open to opencircuit 162 and to maintain circuit 160 in an opened condition.Thereafter, a return mechanism (not shown) associated with cam 206causes it to return to its start position to reclose switch 166. Cam 208is provided with a similar return mechanism so that, if circuit 184 isactuated, switch 168 will be brought to its normally closed position.

Valve solenoid operating circuit 164 includes secondary windings 246 and248 of transformers 238 and 244. A rectifier bridge 250 is connected tothe secondary windings to convert the alternating current emanatingtherefrom to direct current and is secured in series to a switch 252 forsupply thereto of the direct current. A filter network 253, comprising aresistor 254 and a capacitor 256 each disposed in parallel circuit withthe rectifier, smooths the direct current supplied by the rectifierbridge. Switch 252 is selectively connected to windings 120 of one orthe other of faucet assemblies 12 and 14 by respective leads 34 and 36.In order to correlate the respective solenoid windings with theircorresponding timer motor-counter circuits, switches 210 and 252 aresecured together for simultaneous operation by selector switch operator54. To this end, switch 252 is provided with poles 258 and 260alternately contactable by a common pole 262 by a movable connector 263and poles 264 and 266 alternately contactable by a common pole 268 by amovable connector 270. Poles 260- and 266 are secured to the solenoidwinding of faucet assembly 12 while poles 258 and 264 are connected tothe solenoid winding of faucet assembly 14. Thus switches 210 and 252are interrelated by operator 54 in such a manner that a closing ofswitch 210 between poles 212 and 216 and poles 220 and 222 correspond toa closing in switch 252 of poles 258 and 262 and poles 264 and 268.

Assuming that it is desired to fiil a pitcher with a beverage, therebyemploying faucet assembly 14, selector switch 54 is positioned so thatthe above mentioned pole contacts are made. Power switch 60 is closedand the dispensing apparatus is prepared for operation as indicated bythe illumination of lamp 68. Since it is desired that a pitcher will befilled, light 58 will also be illuminated to show that faucet assembly14 is ready for action. Actuating switch 44 is then momentarilydepressed so that current flows through circuit 160. Because relaywinding 170 is energized, the relay switches close thereby making itunnecessary to continue to depress the foot pedal. Current then flowsthrough relay switch 180, the primary windings of the transformers, andleads 232, 234 and 236. At the same time current flows through relayswitch 178, poles 216 and 212, through timer motorcounter circuit 184 tobegin operation of motor 202 and rotation of cam 208 and to causecounter 198 to register the event, and through leads 234 and 236.Current also passes through poles 222 and 220 (via a lead 272), lamp 58and leads 230, 232, 234 and 236. Because of the alternating currentflowing through the primary transformer windings, a current is arousedin the secondary windings which is conducted to bridge 250 forrectification into direct current which is smoothed by network 253,across poles 262 and 258 and poles 268 and 264 and finally to solenoidwinding 120 of faucet assembly 14 wherein valve head 100 is unseatedfrom orifice 84 and gasket 86. The beer begins to flow and continues toflow as long as earn 208 remains in contact with switch 168. When thecam, however, sufficiently rotates so that it no longer contacts switch168, the complete circuit opens and the valve member and head under theurging of spring 138 shuts off the fiow of the beer.

Although our invention has been described wherein switches 210 and 252are joined for simultaneous operation by operator 54, it is obvious thatthe switches may be independently operated wherein switch 210 isconnected to operator 54 and switch 252 is connected to an operator 274(see FIG. 1). It follows, therefore, that assemblies 12 and 14 may besecured for both glass and pitcher use, and may be secured by conduits26 and 28 to different beverage sources.

Regardless of the particular connection between switches 210 and 252,the invention provides, among others, for a faucet which is exceedinglyeasy to clean. It is only necessary to disengage the assemblies fromconduits 26 and 28, remove plate 116, unscrew screw 144, slip yoke 142from key slots 110, and slide valve member 96 out of bore 80. Thispermits a full access to the member, the bore, and passage 88. This andother advantages accrue from the simplicity of the circuit and of theassemblies.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particularembodiment, it will be understood that various changes and modificationsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit of the inventionor the scope of appended claims.

We claim:

1. An automatic beverage dispensing device comprising a plurality offaucets connected to at least one source of beverage, each said faucetincluding a valve disposed therein, a solenoid attached thereto andoperatively secured to said valve; and an electronic metering and timingoperator connected to said solenoid of each said faucet whereby saidoperator is disposed to control, measure and record the quantity ofbeverage passing through each said faucet; each said faucet including athrough bore provided with an inlet orifice at one end thereof incommunication with the source, said valve including a valve memberreciprocally positioned in the bore and including a valve head disposedin contact with the orifice in sealing engagement therewith; anextension secured to said valve member opposite said head and protrudingfrom the other end of the bore, said extension being provided with apair of diametrically opposed slots; said solenoid including an end walland a winding having an axis, a core reciprocally and coaxially disposedadjacent said winding, a spring positioned between said core and saidend wall to provide a bias of said core away from said winding; a yokesecured at one end to said core and provided with a pair of tines at theother end, said pair fitting about said extension within the slots;whereby, when said solenoid winding is energized, said core is drawntoward said winding against the bias to break the sealing engagementand, when said winding is deenergized, said core and valve member moveunder the influence of the bias to reestablish the engagement; saidoperator comprising an energizing circuit, a timing and counting circuitand a solenoid winding circuit, said circuits having interconnections;said energizing circuit including in series connection with a source ofelectrical power, a pair of cam switches, a relay winding and a parallelsubcircuit including an actuating switch and a relay switch, said relayswitch being operatively connected to said relay winding whereby, whensaid relay winding is energized by a momentary closure of said actuatingswitch, said relay switch is closed to maintain said relay windingenergized; said timing and counting circuit including a pair ofparallely connected motor-counter subcircuits each provided with arecording device and a cam operatively associated with one of said camswitches, said pair of subcircuits having a series connection with afirst selector switch, and a transformer having a primary windingsecured in parallel with said series connection and a secondary winding;said solenoid winding circuit including a second selector switch and arectifier connected in series with said secondary winding, and saidsecond selector switch having selective connections with each saidsolenoid in each said faucet.

2. A beverage dispensing device including a faucet assembly connected toa source of beverage for control of flow thereof, said faucet includinga valve member, a solenoid operatively secured to said valve member andan electronic operator connected to said solenoid, said operatorincluding an energizing circuit including a power controller providedwith a relay and a normally closed cam-actuated switch, a correlatingcircuit automatically energized upon energization of said energizingcircuit and provided with a timing mechanism operatively connected tosaid switch and operable when said switch is closed and non-operativewhen said switch is open, said mechanism correlated to the flow forcontrolling said power controller and the flow, a solenoid controllingcircuit automatically energized upon energization of said correlationcircuit and said energizing circuit, and interconnections disposed amongsaid circuits.

3. A device as in claim 2 wherein said mechanism includes a cam and adriver secured thereto.

4. A device as in claim 5 wherein said correlation circuit furtherincludes a flow indicator connected to said mechanism.

5. A device as in claim 2 wherein said energizing circuit furtherincludes an actuating switch and said relay includes a relay switchdisposed in a parallel subcircuit with said actuating switch and a relaywinding, said subcircuit having a series connection with saidcam-actuated switch and said relay winding.

6. A beverage dispensing device including a first faucet assemblyconnected to a source of beverage for control of a first beverage flowtherefrom, said first faucet assembly including a first valve member anda first solenoid operatively secured to said first valve member; asecond faucet assembly connected to the source for control of a secondbeverage flow therefrom, said second faucet assembly including a secondvalve member and a second solenoid operatively connected to said secondvalve member; and

an electronic operator including an energizing circuit provided with apower controller,

a correlation circuit connected to and energized by said energizingcircuit and provided with a first mechanism correlated to the firstbeverage flow and including a power controller de-energizer fortie-energizing said energizing circuit and for controlling the firstbeverage flow and a second mechanism connected in parallel with saidfirst mechanism and correlated to the second beverage fiow and includinga second power controller de-energizer for de-energizing said energizingcircuit and for controlling the second beverage flow,

a solenoid controlling circuit secured in parallel with said mechanismsand between said energizing circuit and said solenoids, and

means connected to said mechanisms for operating only one of saidmechanisms and the correlated beverage flows at one time.

7. A device as in claim 6 wherein said means comprises a pair ofswitches respectively connected to said mechanisms.

8. An electronic operator powered from a voltage supply, including anelectromagnetic winding, a plurality of normally closed voltage sup-plycut-offs disposed in series with each other and with the supply, aplurality of timers disposed in parallel with each other for selectiveoperation of only one of said timers at a time, each of said timerssecured in parallel with each of said cut-offs for connection thereof tothe supply and connected to each of said cut-offs for independentopenings thereof, said timers connected to said winding and providedwith means having different operating timing elements for correlatedtimed energization of said winding, and means connected to said timersfor the selective operation thereof.

9. A faucet assembly comprising a casing and a body secured to saidcasing, said body having a first axis and a through open-ended borecoaxially disposed on the first axis, a valve seat formed in one of thebore ends, a valve member and reciprocal disposed within the bore alongthe first axis and provided with an element in sealing engagement withsaid seat, said valve member provided with an extension protrudingbeyond the other bore end, an electromagnet disposed Within said casingand provided with a second axis parallel to the first axis, an armaturemounted parallel to said valve member in said casing for axial movementalong the second axis towards said electromagnet, means disposed in saidcasing in contact with said armature for urging axial movement thereofaway from said electromagnet, and a connector rigidly and removablysecured substantially at right angles to said armature and said valvemember.

10. A faucet assembly comprising a casing and a body secured to saidcasing, said body having a through openended bore, a valve seat formedin one of the bore ends, a valve member reciprocally disposed within thebore and provided with an element in sealing engagement with said seat;said valve member provided with an extension protruding beyond the otherbore end and having diagonally opposed slots, an electromagnet disposedwithin said casing, an armature mounted in said casing for axialmovement towards said electromagnet, means disposed in said casing incontact with said armature for urging axial movement thereof away fromsaid electromagnet, and a yoke secured at one end to said armature and afork formed at the other end of said yoke and engaged within the slots.

11. A faucet assembly comprising a body provided with a bore, a valvemember disposed in the bore and in sealing engagement therewith, saidvalve member reciprocal along a first axis a solenoid mounted in. saidbody and provided with an associated armature reciprocal along a secondaxis toward and by said solenoid, said valve member and said armaturemounted in parallel, means urging said armature away from said solenoid,and a connector secured substantially at right angles to said armatureand said valve member to facilitate easy removal of said valve memberfrom said body, said valve member including an extension secured theretowhich is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed peripheral slots,and said connector including a pair of tines rigidly and removablyfitted within the slots.

12. A beverage dispensing device for controlling the flows of beveragefrom a source to a plurality of faucet assemblies:

each said faucet assembly including a valve member and a solenoidoperatively secured to said valve member and an electronic operatorconnected to said solenoid of each of said faucet assemblies, saidoperator including an energizing circuit having a power controller,

a correlation circuit energized by said energizing circuits, includingseparate mechanisms respectively connected in parallel with each saidsolenoid and respectively correlated to the fiows and having aconnection with said power controller for deenergizing said powercontroller and for stopping the respective beverage flows,

a solenoid controlling circuit,

interconnections disposed among said circuits, and

means for operating alternatively said mechanisms and the correlatedbeverage flows one at a time.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,961,386 6/1934 Payne 2225042,565,084 8/1951 Parks 222 X 2,959,341 11/1960 Noakes 222504 X 3,031,1024/1962 Storms 222-70 X 3,145,741 8/1964 Cochran 22270 X 3,198,404 8/1965Welches 222-504 X 3,221,936 12/1965 Spinuzza 22276 X 3,248,009 4/1966Sutton et al. 22270 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. CHARLES R.CARTER, Examiner. F. R. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 ,380,629 April 30 1968 Joseph Kontra et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 1, line 17, "float" should read flat Column 2, line 32, "speedly"should read speedy Column 8, line 45, "correlating" should readcorrelation line 57, "5" should read 3 Column 9, line 37, "opening"should read openings lines 46 and 47, "and reciprocal disposed withinthe bore" should read disposed within the bore and reciprocal Column 10,line 14, "axis" should read axis, lines 26 to 48, Claim 12 should appearas shown below:

12. A beverage dispensing device for controlling the flows of beveragefrom a source to a plurality of faucet assemblies:

each said faucet assembly including a valve member and a solenoidoperatively secured to said valve member and an'velectronic operatorconnected to said solenoid of each of said faucet assemblies, saidoperator including an energizing circuit having a power controller,

a correlation circuit energized by said energizing circuits includingseparate mechanisms respectively connected in parallel with each saidsolenoid and respectively correlated to the flows and having aconnection with said power controller for de-energizing said powercontroller and for stopping the respective beverage flows,

a solenoid controlling circuit, interconnections disposed among saidcircuits, and means for operating alternatively said mechanisms and thecorrelated beverage flows one at a time Signed and sealed this 7th dayof October 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents

2. A BEVERAGE DISPENSING DEVICE INCLUDING A FAUCET ASSEMBLY CONNECTED TOA SOURCE OF BEVERAGE FOR CONTROL OF FLOW THEREOF, SAID FAUCET INCLUDINGA VALVE MEMBER, A SOLENOID OPERATIVELY SECURED TO SAID VALVE MEMBER ANDAN ELECTRONIC OPERATOR CONNECTED TO SAID SOLENOID, SAID OPERATORINCLUDING AN ENERGIZING CIRCUIT INCLUDING A POWER CONTROLLER PROVIDEDWITH A RELAY AND A NORMALLY CLOSED CAM-ACTUATED SWITCH, A CORRELATINGCIRCUIT AUTOMATICALLY ENERGIZED UPON ENERGIZATION OF SAID ENERGIZINGCIRCUIT AND PROVIDED WITH A TIMING MECHANISM OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TOSAID SWITCH AND OPERABLE WHEN SAID SWITCH IS CLOSED AND NON-OPERATIVEWHEN SAID SWITCH IS OPEN, SAID MECHANISM CORRELATED TO THE FLOW FORCONTROLLING SAID POWER CONTROLLER AND THE FLOW, A SOLENOID CONTROLLINGCIRCUIT AUTOMATICALLY ENERGIZED UPON ENERGIZATION OF SAID CORRELATIONCIRCUIT AND SAID ENERGIZING CIRCUIT, AND INTERCONNECTIONS DISPOSED AMONGSAID CIRCUITS.